Page 67 of Wild Pucker

"It’s a public event, Avery. I bought a ticket."

"Yes, it’s a public event. For fans. Not for gossip-mongering media members who blow smoke up everyone’s ass. You’ll write this charity event as an orgy or a satanic ritual where we sacrifice virgins."

"Virgins are yesterday’s news, just ask Holly."

"You’re a real bitch, you know that? Always were, always will be."

It takes me a second, but I finally place her. I’ve never seen her in person, but I now recognize her from the photo on her news column. The Buzz. It’s Cassidy Tippett. She’s pretty in a Regina George, Mean Girls kind of way. I can totally picture her preening around high school halls, pretending her shit didn’t stink. And, from what Holly and Avery have told me, that’s precisely what Cassidy Tippett did in high school, along with making their lives a living hell.

"Yes, well, I’m a bitch who gets the story." Cassidy gives us a big, fake smile before turning to me. "Want to give me the inside scoop on which man will win your heart in a few days?"

"Not a chance." I smile back.

"How about you, lover boy? Want to go on the record?" she asks Chase. "I had a very enlightening conversation with a woman you know quite well. She was dressed like a Playboy Bunny and had some fascinating things to say about your past paramours." She leans in, pretending to whisper, but everyone can hear her. "Someone’s been a very naughty boy, Mr. Wilder. Kinky. I like it."

My hand grips Chase’s as he stares at Cassidy mutely, jaw tight.

"I’ll take that as a no," she laughs. "Never fear. I’m sure if I hang around here long enough, someone will scare up a scandal. You SASS ladies always do such a good job of keeping me in business." With that, Cassidy picks up her cocktail glass, salutes us and walks off, pigtails and ass swaying in her little booty shorts and fishnets.

"God, I hate that woman," Avery says, taking a large gulp of her drink before dragging Ryan off to get a refill at the bar. I tug on Chase’s arm to follow, but he’s rooted in place, staring across the banquet hall. My eyes follow his until they find what he’s looking at—a woman in high heels, a sparkly, skin tight bodysuit with a fluffy bunny tail and ears.

Anna Munro waves and winks from across the dance floor by a table of desserts, lifting a champagne glass to her lips and smiling. Dread, anger, hate, and something insidious pool in my gut. Anna might not have been the first woman to hurt Chase, but she certainly had a hand in creating the scars and trauma he’s dealing with now.

I feel Chase tense beside me. I’m not sure if he feels uncomfortable around Anna or if he thinks I feel uncomfortable around her. Well, he’s about to find out.

"Absolutely not. No," I say, raising my voice, unhooking my arm from his and making my way over to Anna before she decides to come after Chase. I don’t care if I’m making a scene. "Leave. You’re not welcome here." She shoots me a saccharine smile like she has no idea what I’m talking about.

"I bought a ticket just like everyone, Ms. Valentine. I’m a paying donor."

"Yeah, I don’t care. Chase doesn’t want you here. I don’t want you here, and any parent with a teenage son doesn’t want you here either. This isn’t American fucking Pie, and you’re not Stiffler’s mom."

"Oh, stop being so dramatic." Anna rolls her eyes, stepping closer. "Jealousy doesn’t suit you. It’s not my fault Chase likes his women mature." I grit my teeth and lower my voice. I honestly don’t understand what her endgame is showing up at games and events. Money? Some weird, twisted desire for second-hand fame? Clout?

"We both know this isn’t a matter of two consenting adults with an age gap. You seduced a minor in your care. There are two words for that, statutory rape."

Her eyes narrow, lips pursing. "He was an adult."

"When you were caught. I’d bet my left tit that your relationship didn’t magically evolve into something physical the second Chase blew out his birthday candles."

"Prove it. It’s your word against mine—the word of an envious little girl with a crush on her brother’s best friend." My hackles raise. Everyone around us is enjoying their night, dancing, sipping their drinks, and chatting animatedly; ignorant of the tension turning sour beside a table full of sweets.

Anna smiles and bends to whisper in my ear. "Chase will always be a broken little boy, but believe me when I tell you, he fucks like a man."

I see red. And by some divine karma, a waiter carrying a fresh batch of the violently green punch everyone’s been imbibing is walking past. Mercilessly, I grab the entire bowl and empty it over Anna’s head. Her stupid bunny ears slip off onto the floor, and her costume looks like toxic waste.

You know that moment in movies where the record player screeches to a halt, and the entire room suddenly goes eerily silent and stares? Yeah, that’s this moment.

"You bitch," Anna shrieks as her hand slaps across my cheek. I don’t even feel it. Instead, a manic grin stretches across my face as I step forward and lift a double-decker cake off the dessert table and launch it at Anna.

"There you go, bitch. You can have your cake and eat it too."

"I’m going to fucking kill you, you little slut."

I’m pretty sure we’re about a millisecond away from a proper catfight for the ages when arms wrap around my waist and lift me away. I flail, kicking my legs out. "Bring it on, bitch." I turn towards Chase and yell, "Let me go. I’ll take her down so hard her bunny tail will lodge so far up her ass, it will come out her throat."

"Oh Jesus Christ, here we go again," Holly says as she and Avery run toward us. The entire room is in a state of shock and pandemonium. A security guard is escorting Anna away, and I notice several Northmen players laughing and cheering.

"Lily, what the fuck?" Luke thunders, glancing at Chase and me.

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